Page 74 of Buried In Between

She took a sip of the hot tea. The gold handle caught the glint of the sun and sparkled furiously. Bizarrely it provided the fortification she needed.

‘Thank you for the kitchen. I love it. It’s just as I dreamed.’

‘You designed it. And I agree it looks rustic and authentic and really suits the house.’

With the bathrooms also complete, the house was finally feeling like a home, something she had created for her and Ish. It would be beautiful. The living area still needed furnishings and personalised touches but they were getting there. In such a short time, they’d achieved a lot.

‘Maybe you should go? There’s nothing to say, is there? You cannot understand my position and why I did what I did. You should focus on your own family.’

Noah paused mid-sip.

‘I was worried. There were rumours that something was going on out here. I wanted to check you were okay. Duke said his father had given him the Lego. I assume the talk about helicopters is true then. Did he visit?’

She wandered outside, the deck was like Switzerland, neutral territory where any matter of things could be discussed. ‘Yes, he was here. Exactly as you wanted.’

Noah had the grace to wince.

‘How did he know where you were?’

She sat now, gazing out over the view of her home. ‘You were completely out of line threatening to reveal our whereabouts.’ She threw a glance in his direction then, briefly, but turned back. ‘That was not your place, was never your information to divulge. However, you were right. His father should know that his son was safe and where he was living. Every parent deserves to know that about their child. I was wrong in withholding that information, but I’ve already justified my reasons.’ Noah went to speak but she shushed him. ‘Anyway, I made contact and Henry immediately replied saying he knew where we were and that he was on his way.’

‘He knew?’

‘Yep. He said he’d always known. I give him credit for not ambushing us. He waited until I made contact, I appreciate that. It was good of him.’

‘So, he arrives, seriously in a helicopter with security staff?’

A frisson of annoyance at his surprise spread through her. Hadn’t she told him enough of the family she’d come from and of the very real risks she faced? No point dwelling on the facts as she knew the truth. ‘Yes. Two helicopters in fact. The first scoured the place to ensure his safety and he alighted from the second, but those details are irrelevant. We talked and sorted things out.’

Noah’s face expressed incredulity. ‘In one conversation, you’ve sorted everything out?’

‘Well, yes, verbally, obviously there are still issues to address, matters to organise. He’s agreed to our living here, and for Ish to stay with me. He’ll visit when he chooses and stay involved but, his interests have changed somewhat since I left.’

Noah walked to the back edge of the deck. Ava imagined he was thinking about his own marital dispute. Instead, he asked, ‘What other interests?’

‘He’s taken another wife and she’s expecting a child.’ Ava let those words sink in.

‘Shit.’

‘Exactly.’ Noah went quiet again. ‘Have you had news?’ It was only decent of her to ask but he didn’t deserve her kindness.

He kept his back turned away, his voice distant. ‘You take your child across the world and your husband isn’t fighting you for custody? And he just rocks up in his fancy helicopter to say that’s okay?’

‘You’re being facetious, you know it’s not that simple.’

‘Have you ever asked Duke who he wants to live with?’

The question surprised her. She hadn’t but was confident of his reply. ‘I don’t need to. My husband was largely an absent father. I cared for Ish, it was my job.’

‘Yeah, I understand now. I didn’t before. I understand about the dynamics of these things, of the basic biological needs of children.’

A surge of irritation bubbled under the surface of her skin. Biology? ‘It’s futile to compare your situation to mine. They are vastly different. It is best for Ish to be with me.’

‘Yes, it’s in his best interests.’ The words were elongated and she couldn’t determine if he was being sarcastic.

‘What’s happened, Noah?’

He told her.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com